This special NORTH CAROLINA magazine community profile supplement discusses the city of Durham. Already known as a world-class medical center, the town is now making a name in pharmaceuticals. Merck is building a $300 million plant that will employ 200. Over the last year thirty-three new or expanded businesses opened, creating over 2,700 new jobs and representing $748 million in investments. Cline discusses Durham's downtown revitalization and things to see and do, such as the American Dance Festival, Duke University basketball games, Central Park, and a number of bookstores.

Businesses of any size can keep workers' compensation costs to a minimum if they have the proper policies in place and get expert advice on avoiding common errors. Considerable assistance is available online with information to cover all manner of safety and occupational practices for office and industrial workers. Bivins lists ten steps to follow to control costs and provides answers to workers' compensation questions, such as how much does it cost, does the owner have to be covered under the policy, and are there waivers on workers' compensation coverage in North Carolina.

By boat is the best way for some vacationers to travel from the Great Dismal Swamp down to Old Baldy Lighthouse off Southport. Each a year about 2,000 snowbirds (people who travel south in the winter and north in the summer) sail that route. Many others enjoy fishing, birdwatching, cruising, kayaking, and sightseeing in the well-maintained waters of eastern North Carolina. Wright describes sights to see along the waterways and a short distance inland.

James Speed, Jr., did so well as a CPA that he retired at age 46. He had to be coaxed back to work in 2003 as CEO and president of the North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company. Speed has plans to take the company to new levels. He wants the company to become one of the nation's top 150 insurance companies in terms of gross premiums. In three years the company has moved from $70 million to $140 million annually.